When I was growing up, there were so many musicals you could watch. I like the fantasy of musicals and I love music.

It was a very vulnerable time going from being insecure about my body and who I am to becoming comfortable with me. I had to tune out what the hell everybody else had to say about who I was. When I was able to do that, I felt free.

Church was a requirement, there was no choice in the matter, so was vacation bible school. Gospel has been in me since I was a kid.

I don’t want to be a supermodel; I want to be a role model.

I really don't know how to be anyone else, and whenever I try to be anyone else, I fail miserably. Or I disappoint myself. It doesn't build my self-esteem, and it doesn't help me grow me at all.

I had to grow to love my body. I did not have a good self-image at first. Finally it occurred to me, I'm either going to love me or hate me. And I chose to love myself. Then everything kind of sprung from there. Things that I thought weren't attractive became sexy. Confidence makes you sexy.

I have a no-die clause in every movie. The black people can't be dying all the time.